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Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012 Paga A3 GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS LEGISLATURE NEW SESSION Marriage equality first on agenda Democratic lawmakers' to introduce bill that recognizes same-sex unions MyCantralJarsay.com Home News Tribune 1 fgTf jumm m. I- pit -rr- I i By Bob Jordan i Statehouse Bureau TRENTON Two years after a marriage equality There will be few new faces in the Assembly chambers when the house reorganizes today, nj press media file Turnover in Legislature slight marriage laws, but that was later disputed by John Tomicki, executive director of the League of American Families and president of the New Jersey Coalition to Preserve and Protect Marriage. Tomicki said states are more frequently enacting constitutional amendments or statutes "defining marriage as a union of one man and one woman." "Sociologists have studied the issue of marriage and its role in culture and they've seen how, when the traditional definition of marriage is maintained, it benefits society," said Tomicki, who added that he expects the issue to draw "a very intense public policy debate" over the coming weeks. Sweeney said he wants the bill to be sent to committees for vetting "right away" and expects the measure be ready for full legislative votes by March.

The Assembly is expected to pass the bill. In the Senate, the measure will need 21 out of the 40 members to back it to erase the defeat of two years ago. "I think the vote will be close. I don't think they have the 21 votes at this time," Tomicki said. Sweeney said he'll do his best to galvanize support and that he hoped Christie "wouldn't stand in the way" if the bill reaches his desk.

Sweeney suggested Christie in that case take no action. Under the state constitution a bill becomes law within 45 days of passage even if the governor does not sign it. The governor's office did not respond to a request for comment. "If the governor cannot raise himself by signing a law to ensure a basic civil right for all residents, we would hope that he would not lower himself by vetoing it," Sweeney said. Bob Jordan: 609-984-4343; bjordan njpressmedia.com bill failed in the New Jersey Senate, ranking Democratic lawmakers say they want to try again.

A measure to fully recognize same-sex unions as marriages will be formally introduced today, the first day of the new legislative session. Support is being led by Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, who didn't cast a vote the last time around. Sweeney during a news conference Monday said he erred in that January 2010 vote. "I made a terrible mistake, a political calculation, and I didn't look at the issue for what it was," Sweeney said. Democrats enjoy majorities in both houses of the Legislature but can still be outgunned on the issue by Republican Gov.

Chris Christie, who in the past has signaled opposition. New Jersey provides legal protections to same-sex civil unions, but during the news conference an Asbury Park couple, Daniel Weiss and John Grant, said that falls short of marital status. When Grant, 46, was hit by a car in New York in 2010 and needed emergency treatment for hemorrhaging in his brain, Weiss said he was told by hospital staff that "a real relative" needed to be brought to the hospital to serve as Grant's surrogate. Weiss said he was stunned. "For all intents and purposes, a civil union was worthless in New York.

It was like using counterfeit currency," he said. Steven Goldstein, chairman of the gay rights organization Garden State Equality, said civil-union couples do not have the same access to legal rights enjoyed by those in traditional marriages. Goldstein also said other states are trending toward liberalizing sents the Senate in the 11th District currently, but redisricting moved him into the same district as Sen. Robert Singer. Kean becomes the first person elected to the Assembly after being elected to the upper house since Thomas Dunn in 1992; he's the 44th to serve in the Assembly after being in the upper house.

LD32: Assemblywoman Angelica Jimenez, D-Hudson West New York resident, 46 Radiology technician, vice president of the West New York school board Replaces Assemblywoman Joan Quigley, who was also compelled to retire by the redisricting map. LD33: Assemblyman Sean Connors, D-Hud-son Jersey City resident, 42 School board member in Jersey City, detective with the Jersey City Police Department Replaces Cari-dad Rodriguez, whose hometown West New York was relocated under the new redisricting map. LD3S: Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter and Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly, D-Passaic Both Pater-son residents Sumter, 37, is director of behavioral health services at Mountainside Hospital, board chairwoman for See TURNOVER, Page AS tor Trust, former New Jersey Turnpike Authority commissioner Already a member of the Legislature, sworn in Nov. 21 but selected for the post earlier to run as an incumbent, after Jack Conners resigned to take a job in Camden County government. LD8: Assemblyman Christopher Brown, R-Burlington Evesham resident, 40, owns title and real estate business Until last week, deputy director of the Burlington County freeholder board Former Democrat who switched parties in 2010, two years after being one of the first Democrats elected freeholder in Burlington County since 1983 Replaces Gerry Nardel-lo, an appointed incumbent who didn't seek a full term.

LD10: Assemblyman Gregory McGuckin, R-Ocean Toms River resident, 50 Toms River Township Council president, attorney, Seton Hall Law School graduate in 1987, same year as Chris Christie Replaces James Holzapfel, who moves up to the Senate to replace the retiring Andrew Ciesla. LD12: Assemblyman Robert Clifton, R-Mon-mouth Matawan resident, 43 Member of the Monmouth County freeholder board for the last seven years, former Matawan mayor Comcast Cable's director of government and community affairs for 10 years, for mer assistant to state Department of Labor deputy commissioner Redisricting scrambled the Monmouth County districts, creating an opening in the Assembly when Samuel Thompson successfully won election to the Senate. LD16: Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, R-Somer-set Hillsborough resident, 50 Somerset Coun-ty freeholder from 2007 to 2011, former councilman in Raritan Borough, founder and chief executive officer of Galen Publishing Replaces Denise Coyle, who was squeezed out of the Legislature when redisricting moved her town to a new district with GOP incumbents Ciattarelli was sworn in to the Legislature already, to complete the term of the late Peter Biondi. LD16: To be determined A convention will be held this month among Republican county committee members to choose who will be appointed to Biondi's seat in the new Legislature John Sac-centi of South Brunswick, Donna Simon of Reading-ton and Bill Spadea of Princeton are seeking the appointment A special election then will be held in November to elect an Assembly member to complete the final 14 months of the term. LD30: Assemblyman Sean Kean, R-Monmouth resident, 48 Attorney Replaces Joseph Malone III, who is retiring Kean repre Statehouse Bureau Turnover in the Legislature is relatively small for a post-redistricting election, but there will still be a new infusion of state lawmakers starting Tuesday at noon.

LD2: Assemblyman Christopher Brown, R-Atlantic Ventnor resident, 47, Army veteran of the Persian Gulf War, attorney and former Galloway municipal judge Replaces Vincent Polisti-na, a Republican who lost a bid to move up to the Senate. LD4: Assemblywoman Gabriela Mosquera, D-Gloucester An appeals court Monday ruled Mosquera could be sworn in, days after Superior Court Judge George Leone invalidated her election, saying she didn't meet the requirement she live in the district for one year Democrats say that requirement was declared invalid 10 years ago in redisricting years Blackwood resident, 35, public policy consultant for Gloucester Township and former aide to the Assembly local government committee Replaces Domenick DiCicco who got redistricted into the 3rd District and lost a re-election bid The only seat of the 120 in the Legislature switching parties this week. LD7: Assemblyman Troy Singleton, D-Burling-ton Palmyra resident, 38, president of the New Jersey Carpenter Contrac EDUCATION REFORM Legislature approves changes budget elections Newark, which has successfully sued the state to gain billions of dollars in additional state aid for 31 low-income school districts. The bill is controversial because it circumvents1 the state's School Development Authority, which had been charged with constructing schools in the designated low-income school districts which are protected under two decades worth of state Supreme Court rulings. Jason Uethod: njpressmedia.com for school only 37 percent of Lake-wood High School students graduate.

Sen. Jennifer Beck, R-Monmouth, voted against the bill. She said in an interview that she objected to a provision that would allow the state or school district to give land to the nonprofit. The school elections bill, if signed into law, allows school districts, municipalities or a petition of 15 percent of the registered voters in the last presidential election to move school elections from April to the November general election. Districts that move their elections must keep elections in November for at least four years.

The bill received wide support from education organizations and the state's largest teachers union, the New Jersey Education Association. Critics of the current system say that many school elections, which have low voter turnout in April, are dominated by teachers unions and their allies. But others argue that school districts face potential takeover by political parties if elections move to November. School officials and teachers have long said that it is unfair for school budgets to be the only fiscal measures on which taxpayers can vote. They say many taxpayers simply take out their anger at high property taxes with their vote.

The Urban Hope Act, if it becomes law, faces a potential lawsuit by the Education Law Center in VACATION i $50 GAS CARD with dcnattonl "Today is about re-creating the way we've had education delivered." DONALD NORCROSS state senator, D-Camden contract with for-profit businesses in order to build the schools. They must provide financing and are exempt from public bidding requirements. Donald Norcross said the bill helps the state continue to experiment with ways to improve schools in cities. "Today is about recreating the way we've had education delivered," Norcross said. "The program is limited in scope only three towns but open enough to invite new ways for education." Republican State Sen.

Robert W. Singer of Ocean County said he hoped the program was eventually expanded to Lakewood, his home town. He noted an Asbury Park Press article that highlighted the fact that called the Urban Hope Act, allows for up to four privately operated public schools to be authorized and built each in Newark, Trenton and Camden. In Camden, officials are specifically targeting the new Lanning Square School, to fall under the program. The bill permits school districts to allow a nonprofit to build and operate schools.

The nonprofit will be paid nearly all of the per-student costs associated with each student. The Urban Hope Act passed the Senate on a 35-3 vote and the Assembly 56-17 on Monday night. Christie is expected to sign it. The bills may be the beginning of a series of education reform bills. Gov.

Chris Christie declared 2011 as the Year of Education Reform, but he was stymied in attempts to pass teacher tenure and other measures in the two-year state legislative session which ended Monday. He is expected to press hard for more education reform in Tuesday's State of the State address. The nonprofits may purchase land from or By Jason Method Statehouse Bureau TRENTON Two Democratic proposals for education reform overwhelmingly passed the Legislature late Monday, heralding what could become a spring full of new initiatives aimed at changing public education. State Sen. Donald Nor-cross, D-Camden, brother of longtime South Jersey Democratic boss George E.

Norcross III, sponsored both bills. The first would eliminate school budget votes for any school districts that have their annual elections moved to November and if the district's budget does not exceed the state's property tax cap. Ending statewide school budget elections would end what has been a political tradition in New Jersey for more than a century. The bill passed with a 34-3 vote in the state Senate and a 62-11 vote, with two abstentions, in the state Assembly. Gov.

Chris Christie had not taken a position on the school elections bill by late Monday. The second measure, jAjnerlcan Children SociejyMmiws;.